France TV Distribution is launching mystery thriller “The Island of Lies” (“Sans Retour”) at this year’s Mipcom TV market in Cannes.
Produced by Fontaram Productions and Ramona Productions for France Télévisions, the six-part series centers on Emma, whose life is starting over at the age of 33.
Convicted as a teenager for a double murder she may not have committed, Emma has spent half her life behind bars. Yet a new piece of evidence leads the court to suspend her sentence. She now has two months to prove her innocence before facing a new trial or going back to prison.
To uncover the truth, Emma has no choice but to return to the Breton island of Kerlann, where tragedy struck and where everyone rejects her — including her son, who sees her as his father’s murderer. What if proving her innocence turns out to be even more dangerous than remaining guilty?
Directed by Julien Seri, the series stars Elisa Erka, Amir El Kacem, Béatrice de la Boulaye and Charlotte De Turckheim.
“We love the dynamic plot of ‘The Island of Lies,’ driven by a thrilling race against the clock, as well as its strong female lead, whose relentless fight for freedom and truth brings a powerful feminist dimension to this gripping crime drama set on a remote island off the coast of Brittany,” said Julia Schulte, senior vice president of international sales at France TV Distribution.
“The series is a compelling and captivating whodunit that keeps the tension and stakes high until the final episode.”
Discussing the creative inspirations behind “Island of Lies,” Olga Vincent, the series’ co-writer and co-producer at Ramona Productions, said: “Our ambition was to create a powerful emotional thriller, at the crossroads of the Western and the family saga, driven by a raw and deeply wounded female character.
“The island was both an aesthetic and dramatic choice: an open-air chamber piece where the beauty of the sea and the natural surroundings contrasts with the suffocating insularity of a community on edge, close to breaking apart. Two families bound together by tragedy confront and tear each other apart. In such close quarters, hatred and suspicion are intensified, while the countdown imposed on Emma heightens the tension.”
Explaining the genesis of the story, co-writer Pascal Fontanille added: “‘The Island of Lies’ is inspired by an exceptional judicial situation: the temporary suspension of a sentence pending a decision on whether a new trial should be granted. Since 1945, in France, fewer than 1% of convictions have been overturned: the justice system hates questioning itself.”
True crime stories also happen to be a particular forte for the creative team, stressed François Aramburu, co-producer at Fontaram Productions.
“This theme resonates with our shared interest in major criminal cases: Pascal Fontanille wrote about the Daval case (‘The Daval Mystery,’ TF1), Olga Vincent about the Marie Besnard case (‘The Poisoner,’ TF1) and Julien Seri directed a docufiction series about the Ranucci case (‘Dolores, the Curse of the Red Sweater,’ Canal+).”
On the talent in front of the camera, Aramburu added: “Elisa Erka won us over immediately to play Emma, a rebellious and combative heroine fighting to take back control of her life and win back the love of a son who believes she murdered his father. She brings to the role a strength and fury that never erase the character’s wounds or vulnerability.”
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